An article in DNA India about the launch of Krishnamurthy’s new book, The Fragile Forest: Inside Brazilian Amazonia (which includes a chapter written by Meg Lowman):
The Amazon rain forest is contrary to the way it was represented in Hollywood movie Anaconda. If explorer, writer and photographer Bhaskar D Krishnamurthy is to be believed, it is nice and not dangerous.
Anacondas, said he, were docile and when full and resting, people can even touch them. “It is very different from Nagarhole and Bandipur tiger reserves,” said Krishnamurthy, the author of The Fragile Forest: Inside Brazilian Amazonia, speaking at the launch of his book on Wednesday at Strand Book stall in Manipal Centre.
Date: Jan. 18, 6:30–8:30 pm with discussions beginning at 7 pm followed by Q&A
Location: Tir Na Nog, 218 South Blount Street, Raleigh, 919.833.7795
Fee: Free
RSVP: 919.733.7450×531 or email: katey.ahmann@ncdenr.gov
Every child grows up with a sense of awe about tropical forests — extraordinary creatures including poison dart frogs, sloths, orchids and jaguars representing a veritable treasure-trove of biodiversity. But scientists estimate that more than half of Africa’s rain forests are gone, with at least 40 percent losses in Asia and Latin America and 95 percent in Madagascar. Even with new technologies, measuring tropical deforestation is not easy, and illegal logging is epidemic in many parts of the world. What is the prognosis for the future of tropical rain forests? And how will human beings fare if these vital ecosystems disappear? What essential services do tropical forests provide for the planet, and how can we conserve them for our children?
LAST CHANCE to join Canopymeg on the Orinoco River, where she is leading a trip jointly for the Smithsonian Institution/Explorers Club. Below is information about the trip:
Dr. Lowman will be speaking at the Bethlehem United Holy Church in Durham, NC on Martin Luther King Day (1/17/2011). Details are in the flyer below. (Click to enlarge.)
ESA Ecology and Education Summit to address environmental literacy
Nationally recognized conference will explore progress in science and environmental education
The Ecology and Education Summit “Environmental Literacy for a Sustainable World” will be held October 14-15, 2010 in Washington, D.C. Co-organized by the Ecological Society of America (ESA) and National Education Association (NEA), the event is sponsored by federal agencies, foundations, societies and associations and being held in collaboration with more than 20 national organizations and over 30 individuals. The summit brings together educators, scientists and policy professionals from a wide variety of sectors—including academia, business, agriculture, government, the health industry and the media—to focus on environmental education and opportunities for progress.
“Environmental literacy is essential for creating a sustainable society,” said Meg Lowman, ESA Vice President for Education and Diversity, and Summit co-chair. “As we move into a technologically advanced future, our understanding of Earth’s systems and how humans play into those systems is increasingly vital—the more we know about Earth processes, the better prepared we will be for environmental changes and future resource management.”
Environmental literacy is concerned with the ability to understand ecological, biological and physical systems, as they connect with human systems, and with environmental decision making. The Ecology and Education Summit is moving toward a Decadal Action Plan for environmental literacy outlining immediate next steps and long term goals.
“The Summit will engage educators and experts from a wide range of fields to generate ideas and collaboration and to lay out a specific plan for developing a green workforce and society,” said Carolyn Breedlove, Manager of NEA’s Green Across America, and Summit co-chair. “We have designed interactive strategies to foster discussion and promote creative action.”
The Summit will also feature two keynote speakers, five panel discussions, two breakout sessions and an evening reception on October 14 featuring a poster session, interactive displays and exhibits. In his Keynote Address “Eyewitness to Global Warming,” Will Steger—the National Geographic Society’s first Explorer-in-Residence—will recount his personal experiences observing the effects of global climate change. Will Allen—former professional basketball player, urban farmer and “hero” in the 2010 edition of Time Magazine’s 100 World’s Most Influential People—will talk about the current state of the urban agricultural movement in his Keynote Address “Growing Food and Community in the City.”
Other topics in the Summit include:
Learning about Complexity and Change: New Foundations for Environmental Literacy
Turning the Tide: Building a Green Society through Learning and Doing
Seeing our World Inside and Out: Harnessing New Technologies for Environmental Literacy
Fostering Lifelong Learning Skills: Empowering Best Practices in Effective Teaching and
Learning
Expanding Funding, Strengthening Public Policy
Environmental Literacy for All
The Ecology and Education Summit agenda is available at http://www.esa.org/eesummit/content/summit-agenda. The Summit is sponsored by the Ecological Society of America, National Education Association, National Science Foundation, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Environmental Education Foundation, Tree Foundation, National Geographic and Green Mountain Digital.
Take A Child Outside Week is a program designed to help break down obstacles that keep children from discovering the natural world. By arming parents, teachers and other caregivers with resources on outdoor activities, our goal is to help children across the country develop a better understanding and appreciation of the environment in which they live, and a burgeoning enthusiasm for its exploration.
New hours, new footprint, new activities, plus the return of the Alberti Flea Circus
(RALEIGH) — Yes. Shrimp and crawfish are bugs too and aquatic bugs swim front and center as the 2010 “theme bug” for BugFest — the biggest one-day bug-centric event of its kind in the country at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. On Saturday, September 11 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., all four floors of the Museum, as well as Bicentennial Plaza, Jones St. and Edenton St. will be transformed into a buggy wonderland where visitors can turn fear into fascination and it’s all FREE. As always, the Café Insecta returns, and this year, with more variety than ever. Chefs from Raleigh’s own Spize Café, Acro Café, Market Restaurant, Locopops, Tijuana Flats and PoshNosh Catering will create a host of free bug-filled dishes for everyone to enjoy! Traditional food and drink are also available for sale. The Museum Store will also be selling two new chocolate bars created specifically for this event by Escazu Artisan Chocolates of Raleigh. Hallot Parson, chocolate maker and co-founder, has created the Bamboo Worm Bar, featuring bamboo worms from Thailand and the Big Butt Ant Bar, featuring queen ants from Colombia!
Many of BugFest’s educational stations can now be found on Jones St., which will be blocked off between Salisbury and Wilmington Streets. There, visitors can find the KidZone and a variety of bug stations hosted by bug-experts on many species of arthropod. The KidZone will feature the Roachingham 500, where you can “bet” on the fastest Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches in the land; bee-bearding demonstrations, the Arthropod Olympics, Bug Bounce, Cameron the Caterpillar (large walk-through caterpillar shaped tunnel), face painting (small fee) and “Buggy” Story Time.
Jim Alberti’s Flea Circus will be located at the other end of the plaza and the main stage on Edenton St. will feature musical performances from the North Carolina Theatre, bug-cooking demonstrations by Revolution Restaurant in Durham and live music all day long and into the evening portion of BugFest, also known as the “Evening Insectival” (5 to 7 p.m.) Other Insectival activities include the “Stag Beetle Battles,” the amazing Exentrik acrobats and at 5 p.m. a showing of “Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo,” an independent film about bugs and culture in Japan.
Special presenters at BugFest include Dr. Margaret “Meg” Lowman, the Museum’s new director of the Nature Research Center, now under construction on Jones St., west of the Museum. Dr. Lowman, also known as the “mother of canopy research” will give two talks entitled, “Bugs Are Us” and “Stalking Bugs By Hot-Air Balloon” in the Museum’s 1st floor auditorium. Also in the auditorium, visitors can see “Bugged,” a documentary about the Asian Long horned Beetle that invaded the United States in the mid 1980s and is currently listed in the top 100 of the World’s worst invasive alien species.
New this year, BugFest will serve as the official kickoff to the North Carolina Science Festival, running for two weeks starting September 11 – 26. Log onto www.ncsciencefestival.org for a full schedule of fun, educational activities throughout the state.
Terminix Co. of Eastern North Carolina is the Lead Sponsor of BugFest. Additional sponsors include Armstrong Cricket Farm, Bruegger’s Bagels, Caribou Coffee, Chick-fil-A (Falls Village and Capital Crossings stores), Clif Bar, Mitchell’s Catering, Pepsi Bottling Ventures, and Whole Foods Market. All BugFest activities are free (unless otherwise noted on-site). For information call 919-733-7450, ext. 502 or 523, or visit Bugfest.org.
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 West Jones St., Raleigh, documents and interprets natural history of the state of North Carolina through exhibits, research, collections, publications and educational programming. Find more information online at naturalsciences.org. Hours: Mon-Sat., 9am-5pm and Sun., Noon-5pm. General admission is free. The Museum is an agency of the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Dee Freeman, Secretary.
Take A Child Outside Week is a program designed to help break down obstacles that keep children from discovering the natural world. By arming parents, teachers and other caregivers with resources on outdoor activities, our goal is to help children across the country develop a better understanding and appreciation of the environment in which they live, and a burgeoning enthusiasm for its exploration.
